When the soft morning sunlight touched the rooftops of the village, turning them golden, Aarya opened his eyes. There was an unusual peace in the air outside. No fights, no threat of beasts. Only the laughter of children, the smoke from cooking fires, and the gentle rustle of trees.
Aarya opened the hut's door, and for the first time, his feet stood on the ground without fear. His heart, always ready for a new battle, felt lighter for the first time.
"Too quiet, isn't it?" Grace said, coming up beside him. She tightened her scarf, as if trying to hide something in that cold.
Aarya nodded slowly. "Yeah… and strange too. Like something's missing."
Village life was simple—children played in the dirt, women rolled rotis by hand, elders sat at the doorsteps soaking in the sun's warmth. For
